Making study notes doesn't sound too exciting, does it? But what if I told you that study notes could improve your academic performance? If you've ever faced a major exam, you know how it feels to be overwhelmed with information.

You probably have a textbook or two full of notes and highlighted passages, but you still feel lost when you open the book to study. That's because study notes can become chaotic and utterly confusing without a proper system in place. It's time to ditch the old way of doing things and learn to make study notes to help you ace your next big test.

This blog will teach you the best tips for creating organized and effective study notes, including using AI tools like Constella's AI notes manager, a second brain app for faster note-taking.

Boosts Focus and Keeps You Alert

Taking notes keeps your body and mind engaged during lectures or class activities. This involvement helps you avoid feelings of drowsiness or distraction that can negatively affect your academic performance.

Engages Your Mind

Notetaking keeps your mind actively involved with what you hear. As you listen to a lecture or class activity, you will quickly analyze the information and decide what to include in your notes. This mental engagement promotes learning and memory.

Organizes and Emphasizes Information

Effective note-taking creates a structured, condensed record of classroom information. As you take notes, you’ll identify and highlight key ideas, indicating the structure of the presentation. You’ll also be able to distinguish the supporting points of a presentation, making studying and understanding easier after class. Such organized notes also make it easier for you to link classroom learning to textbook readings.

Creates a Study Tool

A set of concise, well-organized notes from each class session gives you what you need for study, learning, and review after class.

1. Use Constella for Next-Level Study Notes

Constella transforms the process of note-taking with an infinite digital canvas that allows you to capture and connect ideas effortlessly. Its AI-powered search functionality makes finding information instantaneous, so you can save time researching. Whether you’re a researcher working to draw connections across numerous papers or a student looking for an intuitive way to organize your thoughts, Constella’s AI assistant helps you build and navigate your knowledge base without the constraints of traditional folder structures. For busy students and researchers who find themselves limited by conventional note-taking tools, Constella transforms how you capture, find, and connect your ideas. With Constella as your AI notes manager, you can research 10 times faster.

2. Write Phrases, Not Full Sentences

You don’t need to record every word when making study notes. Write brief phrases that capture the key concepts and ideas. Skip words like “the” and “a” that don’t add additional meaning to the lecture content. Retain key technical or discipline-specific terms. This approach not only makes your note-taking more efficient, but it also helps you learn the material faster.

3. Take Notes in Your Own Words

Paraphrasing lecture content helps you understand and remember what you hear. Instead of writing down what the lecturer says verbatim, stop and think about the information before you write it down. Using your own words to capture the concepts helps you process the data so it makes sense. Try to paraphrase everything except where information needs to be noted exactly.

4. Structure Your Notes Effectively

Organizing your study notes as you go helps your brain process the information and creates a logical framework for you to follow when you review them later. Use headings to indicate topic areas or to include bibliographic details of the sources of information. Under each heading, include subheadings to identify specific concepts. Use outline form and/or a numbering system and indenting to help you distinguish major from minor points and clearly indicate the structure of lecture information.

5. Code Your Notes with Colour and Symbols

Coding your notes with colour and symbols is a great way to mark structure and emphasize key points. For example, you can use different colours to classify and link concepts or information by topic. However, don’t focus too much on colour coding when you’re in the lecture. It requires time and concentration, so it’s more useful to highlight and underline when revising your notes later.

6. Highlight and Underline to Identify Key Information

Another way to organize your notes is to underline, circle, star, or use other marking techniques to identify key information, examples, definitions, or other essential materials. Devise your marking code to indicate each type so you can remember what each symbol means when you return to study.

7. Leave Spaces for Missed Information

If you miss something, write keywords, skip a few spaces, and get the information later. Leave a space on the page for your notes and comments. This will help you avoid the distraction of losing your train of thought and allow you to focus on the lecture.

8. Use Symbols and Abbreviations

Symbols and abbreviations for frequently used words, phrases, or names are useful for note-taking in lectures when speed is essential. It’s helpful to be consistent so you remember what they represent and can use them efficiently. Keep a ‘key list’ of frequently used symbols/abbreviations and their meanings so you can refer to them in the future.

9. Use Concept Maps and Diagrams

Information can also be recorded using a concept map or diagram. Try drawing diagrams or pictures for concepts that are hard to note quickly. For instance, a pie chart can indicate the relative strength of political parties in an election instead of writing these details out. Information can be added to the concept map later. Concept maps can easily become cluttered. Use both facing pages of an open A4 notebook to set out your concept map and allow plenty of space for adding ideas and symbols.

Begin in the middle of the page and add ideas on branches that radiate from the central idea or previous branches. Arrows and words can be used to show links between parts of the concept map. Colour and symbols are essential to concept maps, helping illustrate ideas and triggering your thoughts.

Related Reading

• Boxing Method of Note Taking
• Charting Method of Note Taking
• Sentence Method of Note Taking

1. The Outline Note-Taking Method

The outline note-taking technique is one of the most straightforward strategies. This method organizes notes into a hierarchy resembling an outline, creating a structured framework for writing. With this approach, you’ll use headings and subheadings to break information into sections, which helps to group related concepts. This method is especially effective for organizing complex information.

Here’s how to take notes using the outline method:

1. Title the main topics on the far left of the page.
2. Use bullet points to add subtopics below each topic, indenting them toward the right.
3. Expand on each subtopic with supporting facts, notes, or questions, indented further to the right.

When using the outline method on paper, you must gauge the space you need below each subtopic heading for all your notes. With a digital note-taking app, you can always create more or less space as you go. With practice, you can become highly efficient at taking notes this way while keeping them neat and professional.

Pros and Cons of the Outline Method

The advantages of the outline note-taking method include:

• Visually clean and organized notes
• Naturally drawing connections between topics
• Easily converting outlined notes into summaries or study questions for easier review
• Because of how clean and straightforward the outline method is, it can help people save time when reviewing and learning later.

The disadvantages of the outline method of note-taking include:

• Complexity when trying to add graphs and diagrams
• Requirements that content be highly structured
• Lengthier notes, as this method can lead to more detailed sections
• Since the outline method requires you to leave space for subtopic notes, you may focus more on filling the space rather than narrowing down the most critical content.

2. The Cornell Note-Taking Method

Cornell University professor Walter Pauk designed the Cornell note-taking method for students. Like the outline method, Cornell encourages note-takers to keep clean, organized, and condensed notes. It’s beneficial for revisiting your notes, reviewing what you learned, and consolidating your new knowledge. The Cornell note-taking method includes a cue column, a note-taking area, and a summary section at the bottom.

Here’s how to take Cornell notes:

1. Divide your page into two equal vertical columns.
2. Leave the lower one-third to one-quarter of the page divided from the columns, creating an upside-down T on the page.
3. Use the left column to cue keywords or ideas and the right side for expanded notes.
4. Summarize the material in the space at the bottom of the page.

While the Cornell method is well-known for being handwritten, it can also be done with digital note-taking tools. Cornell is also a practical note-taking approach for self-testing, a proven way to learn and retain new information.

Pros and Cons of the Cornell Method

The advantages of the Cornell method include:

• Encouraging people to review and summarize information for better retention
• Keeping notes organized and easy to review
• Helping note-takers learn the most essential ideas and terms
• With a heavy focus on summarizing information, the Cornell method helps people save time when reviewing in the future.

Let’s explore the disadvantages of the Cornell method:

• Not suitable for sessions with heavy terminology and statistics
• Requires summarizing information immediately following the lecture, meeting, or conference
• Contingent on preparing notes pages before the lecture
• The Cornell method is typically geared toward abstract subjects with central ideas rather than facts and data.

3. The Boxing Method of Note-Taking

The boxing method of note-taking is geared toward those who are visual-dominant learners. Note-taking involves creating boxes or outlines to represent different sections or ideas within your notes. Similar to mind mapping, boxed notes allow people to see how ideas are connected and flow from each other. You can take boxing notes by hand or digitally with the help of visual collaboration tools like a lasso tool, which allows you to group items easily—the boxing note-taking method.

The boxing method uses the following steps:

1. Divide the page into two columns.
2. Add topic headers for each core idea and expand with key points directly below the topic.
3. After completing notes for each header, draw a box around the entire note section and header.

The final page will appear as multiple boxes of different sizes neatly containing each core topic and its notes. From there, you can use a mind map by drawing connecting arrows between ideas or separating the boxes. By grouping topics in clusters, learners can take deeper dives into each subtopic while still understanding how ideas are related.

Pros and Cons of the Boxing Method

The advantages of the boxing method of note-taking include:

• Encouraging people to rewrite notes into boxes, which reinforces retention
• Helping improve recall with visual representations of ideas and how they connect
• Promoting clarity and brevity due to the need to condense notes into boxes
• The boxing method is suitable for people who prioritize the aesthetic look of their notes and enjoy being creative.

Here are the disadvantages of the boxing method:

• Unsuitable for those who want a quick and hierarchical solution
• Requires already having an understanding of how ideas are connected -May distract learners with how notes look rather than focusing on the content itself
• The boxing method doesn’t make sense for lectures or meetings that don’t cover multiple core ideas or topics that can’t be easily assigned to specific boxes.

4. The Charting Note-Taking Method

The charting method of note-taking is one of the most effective for fact- and data-heavy content. It involves creating a diagram or chart representing the relationships between different concepts or ideas. When the content is highly structured and uniform, the charting method provides an efficient way to keep up with the material. Because this method is based on facts and keywords, it’s a beneficial way to memorize information and test yourself with recall exercises. It’s less ideal for abstract concepts and ideas—the charting note-taking method.

To follow the charting method, take the following steps:

1. Determine what topics the lecture will cover.
2. Divide the page into multiple columns, each with its relevant keyword.
3. Record relevant notes under each applicable keyword. You can take charting notes by hand with a ruler or another way to divide your page neatly.

You can also take charting notes digitally using a document management system that integrates with your text editor or a spreadsheet application.

Pros and Cons of the Charting Method

The advantages of the charting method of note-taking include:

• Relevant for content that requires memorization and keeping track of facts and statistics
• Useful for summarizing and reviewing content in preparation for exams
• Effective for promoting concise, clean, and organized notes
• Charting is one of the best note-taking methods for comparing and contrasting similar terms or ideas.

The disadvantages of the charting method include:

• Incompatibility with sessions that don’t provide the structure beforehand
• The necessity of spending time preparing your note pages in advance
• Unsuitability for use during lectures or meetings with heavy discussions
• If it’s difficult to categorize the content, then it will be challenging to apply the charting method.

5. The Mapping Method for Note-Taking

Mapping is one of the favorite note-taking strategies in education and business. This visual approach involves creating a diagram or map to represent the relationships between concepts or ideas. Mapping can help eliminate the fuzziness around highly involved topics when learning or covering complex, abstract information. While visual learners tend to prefer this method, it’s useful for anyone trying to connect big ideas and themes and discover how they flow from each other—the mapping method for note-taking.

Here’s how you can put the mapping method of note-taking to use:

1. Write the main topic at the top of the page.
2. Create one branch for each subtopic, stemming from the topic before it.
3. Continue dividing the subtopics downward and outward on the page.
4. Add relevant notes directly under each subtopic.

The final result should be a web or hierarchy of information, similar to a flow chart. Mapping allows you to be creative, using colors or symbols to represent how ideas compare or relate. You can map notes by hand or digitally.

Pros and Cons of the Mapping Method

The advantages of the mapping method of note-taking include:

• Effective review and study through reorganizing original notes into a map
• Deep learning and understanding of complex topics
• Visual learning and memory recall
• The mapping method is visually appealing and a great way to rewrite your original notes during a study, meeting, or review session.

The mapping method also has some limitations:

• Space is constrained, requiring careful placement to ensure all notes fit within a single map
• Notes need frequent revision to prevent confusion
• Mapping takes up time if relationships between ideas aren’t clear to the note-taker
• The mapping method is not always ideal for taking your first round of notes since it can be challenging to gauge how much space you need.

6. The Sentence Method of Note-Taking

The sentence method of note-taking is the most straightforward and least structured strategy. It involves writing each idea as a complete sentence. When the content is not outlined, the sentence method can help give your notes a slight structure that the topic is missing. The sentence method is beneficial for fast-paced conferences, workshops, or meetings that cover a lot of content. It works for handwritten or digital notes—the sentence method of note-taking.

To practice the sentence method, use lined paper and follow these steps:

1. Record content in sentences, such as terms, facts, or ideas.
2. Move to the following line for each new point.
3. Number each new sentence as you progress through the content.

People with nothing prepared before a lecture or session tend to jot down notes in sentence form, which is one of the best methods for taking notes, as it's natural and straightforward.

Pros and Cons of the Sentence Method

The advantages of the sentence method include:

• Recording information that stands out in an easy way
• Keeping track of content in chronological order
• Converting notes into any other method
• The sentence method is a spontaneous way to keep notes without advanced preparation.

The disadvantages of the sentence method include:

• Lack of the visual structure that many people need
• Difficulty in reviewing later if the material appears disjointed
• Incompatibility with content that includes graphs and charts.

The sentence method is often a last resort when it’s impossible to prepare for a meeting or lecture and when the content is too all-over-the-place to slot into any of the above methods.

Constella reimagines note-taking with an infinite canvas that lets you capture and connect ideas effortlessly, powered by AI search that makes finding information instantaneous. Whether you're a researcher trying to draw connections across numerous papers or someone who wants a more intuitive way to organize your thoughts and files, Constella's AI assistant helps you build and navigate your knowledge base without the constraints of traditional folder structures. Constella transforms how you capture, find, and connect your ideas, perfect for busy knowledge workers and researchers limited by conventional note-taking tools. Research 10 times faster with Constella's AI notes manager.

10 Best Apps to Make Study Notes

1. Constella: The Next-Gen Note-Taking Tool

Constella transforms the note-taking process with its infinite canvas. This unique approach allows users to capture and connect ideas smoothly and intuitively. The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) search means you’ll be able to find information instantly. This flexible note-taking tool is helpful whether you’re a researcher trying to draw connections across numerous papers or simply wanting a better way to organize thoughts and files.

Constella’s AI assistant helps you build and navigate your knowledge base without the constraints of traditional folder structures. Constella will transform how you capture, find, and connect your ideas if you find conventional note-taking tools limiting. Research 10 times faster with Constella’s AI notes manager.

2. Evernote: The Classic Note-Taking App

With Evernote, it’s a case of never forgetting your first love. I spent years tinkering with Evernote to build my ideal experience and workflow, but it never came together. From notes, tasks, and schedules to your favorite resources from the web, Evernote makes it easy to save anything you want on your chosen device. I could quickly integrate Evernote with ClickUp, Google Calendar, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, so all my standups, client meetings, and reminders automatically synced with Evernote.

The tool is also available offline, so it’s comforting to know I’ll still be able to access my notes if I’m camping or traveling without internet access. Evernote’s AI-powered search functionality is quick and intuitive. It works across PDFs, documents, and images, so searching through many notes and content is never an issue. The Tasks feature lets you outline project steps and assign responsibilities to others—a great way to collaborate with your team on the go.

Pros

• Save snippets from the web directly into their notes with Web Clipper.
• Scan, digitize, and organize paper documents with your phone’s camera.
• Edit notes and tasks in real time and keep all contributors on the same page.

Cons

• A limited free version that pushes users towards a premium subscription.

3. Notion: The Customizable Note-Taking Database

Notion’s note-taking experience supports various content types, including images, text notes, bookmarks, videos, and code. You can add these to your notes with intuitive controls such as drag-and-drop and slash commands. We loved its customization options. They allowed us to tailor our workspace for different personal and team needs, such as changing privacy settings to keep confidential meeting notes private or sharing them with team members when needed. One pet peeve the team had with Notion is the maze of organization; you’re sometimes lost in the app, and the breadcrumbs aren’t always helpful.

On the other hand, it is pretty popular with people who want to create databases and wikis. The UX is sometimes hit or miss; the windows you’d like to open as separate pages often open as popups and vice versa. Of course, it depends on your personal preference. While testing the app, I tinkered with Notion AI to discover how it can simplify note-taking and organization. I listed a few tasks, mainly related to a new product launch, and Notion AI quickly auto-filled the steps I had to follow to accomplish those tasks.

While they were not entirely accurate, the tool did a fair job. The platform works well for cross-functional teams where collaboration is a must. Comments and real-time editing offer a smooth way to ideate with remote teams, collect and provide feedback quickly, and keep everyone on the same page.

Pros

• Create custom templates and integrate your database into notes
• Access important information quickly via the sidebar
• Write and format notes using Markdown

Cons

• The complex feature sets and UI can be daunting for new users
• Does not offer any screen recording or transcription feature

4. Joplin: The Open-Source Note-Taking App

Joplin is an open-source note-taking application that helps you put your thoughts into words and securely access them across Windows, macOS, Linux, and iOS. The tool supports multimedia notes, including images, videos, PDFs, and audio files. Its sharing and collaboration features are smooth. It allowed me to share my notes with friends, family, and colleagues and work alongside them on the notes without hassle.

There was also an option to save a note (on the internet) and share the link with others—an easy way to share task lists, company wikis, or meeting notes with a large group of people. Joplin offers extensive customization options through plugins, custom themes, and text editors (such as Rich Text and Markdown), ensuring you can tweak the tool to your liking. While it’s an open-source app, it maintains data privacy with End-To-End Encryption (E2EE). Your notes will be accessible only to you unless you choose to share them.

Pros

• Format your notes with Rich Text or Markdown.
• Save web pages or take screenshots directly with the Web Clipper extension (available for Chrome and Firefox)
• Work offline and take down notes on the go

Cons

• The interface is not as user-friendly as some commercial options, limiting its appeal to less tech-savvy users.
• Syncing requires more setup than other mainstream note apps.

5. Microsoft OneNote: The Best Free Note-Taking App

Even as a free app, OneNote is the best note-taking app we've tested. It has every feature you could want, from organizational structure to cross-platform syncing to voice notes and optical character recognition (OCR). It also comes with the best web clipping tool we've seen.

Pros

• Free version includes all features.
• Excellent organizational tools
• Free-form placement of text, drawings, and attachments
• Excellent web clipper

Cons

• Local storage is only offered under Windows.
• Limited OCR

6. Google Keep: The Quick Notes App

Google Keep allows users to effortlessly capture content, including notes, lists, photos, and audio, and organize it on a digital bulletin board. Sharing notes among family and friends is simple. For example, you can share a shopping list and see real-time updates as items are checked off—there is no need for back-and-forth communication.

I like Google Keep’s voice note feature. When I’m in a rush and need to jot down something important, I can simply record a voice memo instead and transcribe it into text later—fast and efficient! Like Apple Notes, anything more complex or advanced you want from the tool is a struggle. You might think Google would make more effort to combine the Keep experience with Google Tasks and Calendar, but it hasn’t happened. They continue to be disparate experiences, which can be frustrating if you want an all-in-one software or expertise.

Pros

• Get reminded of your to-dos at the right place and time with time-based and location-based reminders.
• Organize notes using labels and colors.
• Integrate your notes smoothly with Google Docs, Calendar, and other apps within the Google ecosystem.

Cons

• More suitable for quick notes rather than detailed, lengthy note-taking.
• The features are too basic for complex note organization.

7. Rodeo Drive: A Note-Taking App for Creatives

Rodeo Drive is a project management tool with multiple features that support creative teams. End fragmented workflows and guide your projects from beginning to end using one data-driven interface. In contrast to Milanote’s free-form visual board, Rodeo Drive emphasizes organization and financial management. You can take notes on your projects, manage your team’s workload with accurate task scheduling, and use calendar-based project management to keep everyone on the same page.

Pros

• Streamline team collaboration and project management with straightforward task assignment features, project timelines, and a simple note-taking app.
• Get insights on your projects using the reporting function to oversee tracked time and team performance.
• Integrate with QuickBooks and Xero to streamline your bookkeeping process.
• Take advantage of the budgeting and financial reporting features to monitor the economic health of your projects throughout their lifecycles.

Cons

The free plan is limited to 10 users and lacks access to some advanced features.
Some users report a lack of features compared to other note-keeping apps.

8. Document360: A Knowledge Base Tool for Notes

Another all-in-one workspace software for building customizable knowledge bases is Document360. This software helps you personalize your knowledge base with branded colors. It helps create dynamic, searchable, multilingual user manuals, SOPs, how-to guides, and other documents. Ideal for professionals seeking to streamline documentation processes, Document360 offers a user-friendly interface that caters to technical and non-technical users. Plus, it gives AI functionalities to simplify tackling all documentation needs.

Pros

• Improve the context and relevance of documentation with real-time AI feedback.
• Get insights into user behavior and content effectiveness to optimize knowledge management strategies.
• Connect with popular tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zendesk, and Intercom to build a cohesive workflow across platforms.

Cons

• A few features are only available through costly add-ons.
• New users might require time to leverage the platform’s extensive capabilities fully.

9. Apple Notes: The Simple Note-Taking App for Apple Users

Apple Notes is a simple but efficient note app that works across all devices. This could become your go-to tool if you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem. It’s still the most straightforward app if you work within the Apple realm—summon it anytime on your Mac from the bottom right corner, and it pops up earnestly. Syncing is mostly great; copying something on the phone and pasting it on your desktop is magic. The little things that boost the experience.

Ask more of the app, and you’ll be disappointed. Moving the text around, formatting, and indenting are not easy. Any more advanced use cases are not supported. You can save multiple types of content, including images, web links, handwritten notes, maps, PDFs, and sketches. I prefer Apple Notes’ scanning feature to scanning documents directly from my iPhone—there is no need for third-party scanners! The documents are saved directly within Notes as PDFs.

Pros

• Create notes, edit lists, organize notes into folders, and manage attachments.
• Pin priority notes on top for quick access.
• Add tags to sort and find notes easily.

Cons

• Limited to users within the Apple ecosystem

10. DokuWiki: An Open-Source Wiki Tool for Notes

If you’re looking for an open-source alternative, DokuWiki is a great tool that doesn’t need a database. You’ll love the many plugins that extend DocuWiki’s feature set, chipped in by its buzzing community. However, it’s hard to get past its appearance. Visually, you’re stuck with something that looks like it was made when Mac was called Macintosh.

Pros

• Markdown supports
• Tons of plugin options for syntax, admin, etc.
• Templates for layout customization

Cons

• It can be challenging for non-technical users to onboard.
• The software looks dated, and there are no task management abilities.

Related Reading

• Benefits of Note Taking
• Outline Method Notes Example
• Microsoft Loop vs Notion
• Notion vs Notability
• Notion vs Google Docs

Research 10 Times Faster with Constella

Constella takes an innovative approach to note-taking with an infinite canvas that lets you capture and connect ideas effortlessly. Whether you are a researcher trying to draw connections across numerous papers or a student who wants a more intuitive way to organize your thoughts and files, Constella helps you build and navigate your knowledge base without the constraints of traditional folder structures. Constella transforms how you capture, find, and connect your ideas, perfect for busy knowledge workers and researchers limited by conventional note-taking tools. Research 10 times faster with Constella's AI notes manager.

Related Reading

• Notion vs Apple Notes
• Evernote vs Apple Notes
• Obsidian vs Notion
• Apple Notes vs Google Keep